Oprah Rebuts 'Lie' She Received $1M from Harris Campaign

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Entertainment icon Oprah Winfrey has said it is a lie that she personally benefited from $1 million in payments that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign disbursed to her longtime company, Harpo Productions. This rumor circulated in news articles and on social media in the days following President-elect Donald Trump's November 2024 reelection victory.

For example, on Nov. 10, Fox News published the headline, "Harris paid Oprah $1 million in failed bid to help campaign: report." However, the first sentence in the story clarified on a fact not properly conveyed in the headline: that Winfrey's Harpo Productions received the $1 million. The article cited a Washington Examiner story as its source.

On TikTok, one user whose video received around 750,000 views wrote the caption, "Kamala paid Oprah $1 million during campaign." Other users' posts on X also claimed Winfrey or her production company profited from the payments.

Here's what we know: On Sept. 19, Winfrey — a billionaire — hosted a livestreamed town hall event titled "Unite for America." The event featured a sit-down program with Harris and appearances from a number of celebrities. According to the event's website, the event was held at the venue space The Meridian in Farmington Hills — a suburb of Detroit. USA Today reported that "it was effectively a 90-minute campaign infomercial for Vice President Harris." Winfrey's official YouTube channel also carried the live stream.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/11/13/harris-oprah-1-million/

[WarGamer]

1. Harris DID pay $1M to the Oprah Production Co not directly to Oprah personally.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/oprah-winfrey-kamala-harris-harpo-1-million-1236210258/

Following the inaccurate reporting and speculation that Oprah Winfrey was personally paid by the Kamala Harris campaign to participate in the “Unite for America” livestream rally in September, Winfrey has once again confirmed that the $1 million spent by the campaign went directly to Harpo Prods.’ production fees.

Harpo, after all, required the fees for pre-production, field shoot production and logistics, as well as post-production costs. The event, held on Sept. 19, was a massive event featuring a chat between Winfrey and Harris, as well as virtual appearances by stars including Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, Chris Rock and Julia Roberts.

[andym]

2. What we are up against: social media was rife with posts that the campaign just bought ALL their celebrity endorsements

which of course weakens the endorsements. Talking to apolitical folks I heard this several times. The right wing appears to work social media in a way that Democrats need to master as well.

[newdeal2]

4. Funny because there's lots of reports from influencers

Who were offered significant money from the Trump campaign for an endorsement.

This one is particularly stupid because $1 million is nothing for Oprah. That would be her going rate if she does corporate speaking gigs.

[yardwork]

3. So what?

Even if true, literally so what?

Great example of the MSM's breathless both-siderism, though. "Here's what we know!"

[underpants]

5. Heard the other day - Harris gave $500k to Al Sharpton's organization

Which is true but it was part of an outreach to lots of groups. Al interviewed her Oct. 20th

All the links on this are rightwing sites. AOL picked up on it.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ team made two donations of $250,000 to Sharpton’s group on Sept. 5 and Oct. 1 respectively, according to Federal Election Commission records.

The cash flow came in the context of payments totaling $5.4 million to various black and Latino activist organizations as the campaign set its sights on galvanizing support among minority voters. The Washington Free Beacon first reported the donations.

https://nypost.com/2024/11/12/us-news/kamala-harris-campaign-gave-500k-to-al-sharptons-civil-rights-group-before-sit-down/?utm_source=aol&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=referral